I’m not Mother Nature, but..... My journey hatching broody and bator chicks

[Mimi13]

I knew this would happen! But in my own defense I’m a known worrier. Yes, I am worried about my broody.

I realize that Mother Nature has instructed my broody girl to climb in that little, hidey-hole of a nest, and sit on what would be the most uncomfortable spot for me, atop a bunch of hard-as-a-rock eggs. Ugh! and Ouch!

.....buuuuuttttt, does she know she needs to get up and drink and eat and poop and dust bathe? To my knowledge, because of some strict observation on my part, she has not left the nest in 32+ hours. Are there days that she will not leave the nest? I did think that she might not begin leaving the nest until she has brought the eggs up to a certain temp, or something crazy like that, but it does make sense to me.

Bottom line is, I just don’t know. And what I don’t know worries me! Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

 

[Rose Quartz]

I knew this would happen! But in my own defense I’m a known worrier. Yes, I am worried about my broody.

I realize that Mother Nature has instructed my broody girl to climb in that little, hidey-hole of a nest, and sit on what would be the most uncomfortable spot for me, atop a bunch of hard-as-a-rock eggs. Ugh! and Ouch!

.....buuuuuttttt, does she know she needs to get up and drink and eat and poop and dust bathe? To my knowledge, because of some strict observation on my part, she has not left the nest in 32+ hours. Are there days that she will not leave the nest? I did think that she might not begin leaving the nest until she has brought the eggs up to a certain temp, or something crazy like that, but it does make sense to me.

Bottom line is, I just don’t know. And what I don’t know worries me! Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

How long has she been sitting? Usually they get up once a day to take care of themselves until hatching time when they'll sit tight till they have babies. The momma can feel them moving in the egg. I was able to at about day 12 with eggs on my skin when the power went out. I'd be inclined to trust the momma, maybe move the food and water within a few feet of the nest of you can.

 

[chickengr]

I have had a stubborn broody. I lifted her and put in front of her feed and water. she ate, drank, pooped and returned to the nest. just don't do it the last 2-3 days.

 

[Dpyskaty325]

If you are absolutely sure she is not getting off the eggs for 24 hours straight you should get her out for a sec to eat, poop, etc. If not absolutely sure, she should be fine. They normally know what they are doing!

 

[Kris5902]

Well, a different situation, but worrying comes honestly to some of us... I can’t sleep tonight because we’re getting some sort-of-high winds (nothing like what launched my tractor two days ago, but...) I keep shining my flashlight out the window at my chicken tractor and praying it stays grounded.

My very first thought when hearing the power was out and staying out here for a while was “oh no, I hope they didn’t lose power in Duncan too! I hope all the eggs are ok!” And those aren’t even my eggs! Just someone I bought eggs and chicks from, I’ve never even met the breeder, just her husband that gave me the eggs. I don’t have any in this incubator batch either, But those little helpless eggs trigger some protective instinct. (Even though we usually eat them).

I’m sure your hen knows what she needs to do, maybe she’s sneaking out and tending her needs when you’re not looking somehow? (NINJA CHICKEN!) Unless she starts to look less healthy I would trust her, and Mother Nature, more than any piece of technology...

If you really feel she needs some “me” time as chickengr said... you lift them off put them in front of food and they eat, drink, poop, then hustle back to their nest. Had to break a broody this summer, and no matter how many times I pulled her out and stole her eggs she would return to her nest and freak out about her missing eggs, then set back down on the empty nest! I did that several times a day for almost three weeks before she finally gave up.

I would leave her be until she starts to look unhealthy... granted I’ve never had a broody set eggs before, but I like to think that they have good instincts! Best of luck with your Mama, and I look forward to seeing updates on you hatch!

 

[Mimi13]

How long has she been sitting? Usually they get up once a day to take care of themselves until hatching time when they'll sit tight till they have babies. The momma can feel them moving in the egg. I was able to at about day 12 with eggs on my skin when the power went out. I'd be inclined to trust the momma, maybe move the food and water within a few feet of the nest of you can.

She has been sitting on the nest with eggs since Friday evening. As of this morning I do not believe she has moved, which would put her at 36 +/- hours. She is currently in the top row of nest boxes. I wasn’t going to disturb her by moving her until a few days into incubation. However, I believe I will go ahead and set up her permanent brooding spot this evening or tomorrow morning so she won’t have to go far for food and water at least.

 

[Mimi13]

I have had a stubborn broody. I lifted her and put in front of her feed and water. she ate, drank, pooped and returned to the nest. just don't do it the last 2-3 days.

Yes, I am going to set her out this evening when I return home. We left this morning for another Christmas family get together a couple hours away.

 

[Mimi13]

If you are absolutely sure she is not getting off the eggs for 24 hours straight you should get her out for a sec to eat, poop, etc. If not absolutely sure, she should be fine. They normally know what they are doing!

I’m about 99% sure she hasn’t gotten up yet. Maybe by the time I get home this afternoon I’ll be able to tell if she’s gotten out any.

 

[Mimi13]

Well, a different situation, but worrying comes honestly to some of us... I can’t sleep tonight because we’re getting some sort-of-high winds (nothing like what launched my tractor two days ago, but...) I keep shining my flashlight out the window at my chicken tractor and praying it stays grounded.

My very first thought when hearing the power was out and staying out here for a while was “oh no, I hope they didn’t lose power in Duncan too! I hope all the eggs are ok!” And those aren’t even my eggs! Just someone I bought eggs and chicks from, I’ve never even met the breeder, just her husband that gave me the eggs. I don’t have any in this incubator batch either, But those little helpless eggs trigger some protective instinct. (Even though we usually eat them).

I’m sure your hen knows what she needs to do, maybe she’s sneaking out and tending her needs when you’re not looking somehow? (NINJA CHICKEN!) Unless she starts to look less healthy I would trust her, and Mother Nature, more than any piece of technology...

If you really feel she needs some “me” time as chickengr said... you lift them off put them in front of food and they eat, drink, poop, then hustle back to their nest. Had to break a broody this summer, and no matter how many times I pulled her out and stole her eggs she would return to her nest and freak out about her missing eggs, then set back down on the empty nest! I did that several times a day for almost three weeks before she finally gave up.

I would leave her be until she starts to look unhealthy... granted I’ve never had a broody set eggs before, but I like to think that they have good instincts! Best of luck with your Mama, and I look forward to seeing updates on you hatch!

Well, even if she has already taken care of things by this afternoon, I’m going to set her off for a few minutes. In my haste to start my new chicken family, I forgot to mark the eggs before I put them under her so that needs to definitely be done. I don’t want another chicken making a deposit to the nest in the broody’s absence.

 

[cmom]

Do you have a game camera you can set up to observe her? Years ago I had a broody that would not get off of her nest, so each day I would take her off and block the nest for 10 to 20 minutes then she would eat drink and poop. As soon as I unblocked the nest she was back sitting on the eggs.